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In a world where firsts are celebrated — like Aretha Franklin, who was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Madam C.J. Walker, who was the first female self-made millionaire in the United States; and Michelle Obama, who was the first African-American first lady in the United States — Tiffani Gatson of Greece can claim to be a first as well.

The Greece Police Department has hired her as its first African-American woman on the force.

"In a way it's kind of surreal. I can't believe I'm making history in a way," Gatson said. "It's a good feeling, it's a positive image and I love being able to do that."

The 25-year-old, who loves her family, CrossFit and bowling, grew up on the west side of the city of Rochester before moving to Greece about three years ago. Her interest in becoming a police officer started at Wilson High School. After she graduated high school, Gatson attended the Rochester Institute of Technology.

When she was at RIT she realized "this is what I really want to do," Gatson recalled. "I knew I always wanted a profession where I was helping others."

In 2015 she graduated with a degree in criminal justice. She started civil service tests and in the meantime worked odd jobs. Gatson eventually worked for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in the jail. Just four months later, she got the call from the Greece Police Department.

Gatson was excited. "Being on the road was my dream goal," she said.

She described working for Greece police as an honor.

"I've wanted this for so long, for it to be finally be happening its truly a blessing for me," Gatson said. "I'm policing in a community where I live, so I feel like its more heartfelt."

Her family is supportive, but there is a bit of fear, which Gatson said she understands. Plus, she's the first police officer in her family.

Gatson was sworn in during an October Greece Town Board meeting and is in her second month at the police academy. Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan said he has heard she's been excelling in physical fitness.

"Nothing but raving reviews about her," said Deputy Chief Andrew Forsythe, who said Gatson's work ethic and commitment have earned praise.

"If you've met Tiffani it's difficult not to like her," Phelan said.

Her ambitions include being a sergeant and giving back to other officers that come up the ranks. Gatson said she plans to treat everyone she encounters on the road with respect and "how you would want to be treated."

Diversity and police

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice reported that about one in eight police officers for local departments were female. The number of Hispanic and Latino local police officers increased by 16 percent from 2007 to 2013. Additionally, about 27 percent of local police officers were members of a racial or ethnic minority.

At the Greece Police Department, which began in 1932, the staff is made up of 100 members. It has two African-American male police officers; one is a sergeant. There are 16 females in the department; one is a sergeant and another is a detective. Gatson is the only African-American woman.

"We're constantly looking at more ways to attract a more diverse workforce," Phelan said.

Phelan, along with an assistant professor at Roberts Wesleyan College, started a group called the Greater Rochester Public Safety Diversity Initiative to discuss ways to hire and attract a more diverse workforce.

The suburban police departments are struggling to do so. Phelan explained that statistically there are not a lot of minorities who are taking the exam. "We don't have a lot of people of color applying to our police departments," he said. "We're trying to look at ways to change that."

Diversity in a department would lend itself to more public trust, a better department and impact police community relations, he said.

Gatson said she would encourage women and minorities to look into law enforcement. If the ambition is there, go for it, she said.

"Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, whatever, I feel like having diversity is a great dynamic to have in any department," Gatson said.

"I'm really happy to have Tiffani with us, she's a great person," Phelan said. "I have no doubt she is going to be a great officer. I'm very happy to have broken that barrier of hiring the first black female officer on the police department.

"I think it will help make us a stronger police department and I hope to continue breaking those barriers and growing as a police department."